Slipper resigns as Speaker

Watch Peter Slipper's resignation speech to the House of Representatives

ABC News

Federal Parliament's lower house has voted to install Labor MP Anna Burke as the new Speaker, following the resignation of Peter Slipper last night.

Mr Slipper announced he was standing down just hours after a bill to have him removed from the position was narrowly defeated in Question Time.

The Opposition had been demanding Mr Slipper step down over offensive text messages, but their motion was voted down 70 votes to 69.

A short time later Mr Slipper took the Speaker's chair for the final time to say he was honoured to have been chosen, but recent events meant he was unable to continue in the role.

"It's a wonderful privilege to serve in a Parliament and of course the interests of the Parliament are seriously more important than the interests of any of us, and I respect this Parliament too much to not put aside my personal interests," he said.

"The importance of the House is... far more important than my future."

Holding back tears, Mr Slipper reflected on the changes he tried to make as Speaker and thanked MPs on both sides of Parliament who have supported his reforms.

"I regret that recent proceedings have prevented me from continuing with these reforms," he said.

I leave this position without rancour, with a great deal of sadness and, more importantly, with a great deal of regret because I believe that, given the controversy which has occurred in recent times, that it is in the interests of the Parliament that I should take the course of action that I have personally chosen to take.

Peter Slipper

"I'd also like to thank the staff of my office who've worked so hard, particularly in recent months."

Later on Tuesday night Ms Burke - who has been acting in the role - was elected as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mr Slipper is facing a sexual harassment claim from his former staffer James Ashby.

On Monday court documents revealed text messages sent between Mr Slipper and Mr Ashby, in which the Speaker used offensive language to describe female genitalia.

On Tuesday afternoon he apologised for the messages, saying they were meant to be private, and many of them occurred before he became Speaker.

But he says nothing excuses their content and he can understand why people - particularly women - would be offended.

"I look at the Leader of the Opposition who's been a friend of mine for a very long time, he came to my wedding," he said.

"I don't hold anything against the Leader of the Opposition who I think is a person of fine character and I think we're privileged to have a lady of the amazing stamina that we have as Prime Minister.

"I leave this position without rancour, with a great deal of sadness and more importantly with a great deal of regret because I believe given the controversy that's occurred in recent times that's it's within the interests of the Parliament that I take this course of action."

Not over yet

Mr Slipper says he looks forward to being vindicated of the claims currently against him.

He also says he intends to continue as the independent member for the Queensland seat of Fisher.

Whatever else people may want to say about the Member for Fisher, I think at a human level, each of us would wish the best for him and his family at what is clearly a distressing and very pressurised time.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard

"I thank colleagues on both sides for their friendship - either present or past," he said.

"Perhaps once I have left the sometimes solitary office of Speaker I will get to know them better as the independent member for Fisher."

Ms Gillard says her thoughts are with Mr Slipper's family.

"Whatever else anyone may want to say about the member I think at a human level each of us would wish the best for him and his family at what is a distressing and very pressurised time," she said.

"We would all recognise that there's a group of human beings well beyond this place who are feeling some pain."

Mr Abbott says Mr Slipper has shown "good judgement" by resigning.

"Tonight I have to say that we all feel for him as a human being. He's obviously been through a very difficult period," he said.

"We think that he has done the right and honourable thing by resigning from his high office."

Leader of the House Anthony Albanese has told 7:30 it was widely agreed that Mr Slipper was a very good Speaker.

But he says Mr Slipper recognised that the scandal surrounding him was damaging the Parliament.

"The relentless negativity of Tony Abbott and the Opposition was going to continue and that I think brings down the standing of the Parliament as a whole," he said.

"I spoke to Mr Slipper this afternoon. I've had a couple of discussions with him about timing and about the processes et cetera.